On 20 June 2025, Maggie Brünjes, Chief Executive of Homeless Network Scotland, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by Heriot-Watt University at a ceremony on its Edinburgh campus. The doctorate recognises her leadership in advancing evidence-based, collaborative solutions to homelessness in Scotland.   For over 25 years, Maggie has…

Earlier this year, Glasgow Homelessness Involvement and Feedback Team (GHIFT) investigated people’s experiences of using winter night shelters or welcome centres last winter. The team carried out a survey and interviewed people in three day centres, including a women’s service, to gather evidence of what’s happening on the ground right…

Glasgow City Council has committed to the principle that there should be no ‘shared air’ communal night shelters in the city after hearing hard-hitting testimony of the damaging impact they had on people who were homeless last winter. The pledge by councillors and officials came at a summit held by…

Scotland’s housing emergency is more than stats and headlines. It’s a human issue that affects individuals, families and communities every day. This year’s homelessness conference is focused on the impact of the housing emergency on people. As the conference title says: It’s personal. So it’s fitting that we can announce…

In this month’s briefing: A year after the housing emergency was declared and with less than 12 months until the 2026 Holyrood election, demands for bold, urgent action to increase homes, address inequality and prevent more people becoming homeless are swelling to a chorus. Two academic papers in recent weeks…